Means for forming spacing bands



Dec 2, 1941. F. w. BURGER 2,264,507 I MEANS FOR FORMING SPACING'BANDS Filed Nov. 25, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORQ FPiliP/dhlill/P'i/B BY A TTORNEYI Dec. 2, 1941. w, BURGER 2,264,507

MEANS FOR FORMING SPACING BANDS Filed Nov. 25, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. F/P'IEE/M M ill/E663 A TTORNEK Patented Dec. 2, 1941 l 2,264,507 MEANS FOR FORMING SPACING BANDS Frederick W. Burger, Niles, Mich, assignor to Clark Equipment Company, Buchanan, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Application November 25, 1938,Serial No. 242,167

(Cl. l533) 1 Claim.

This invention relates to means for forming spacing bands of the type employed in dual wheel assemblies for spacing the tire carrying rims on opposite sides of a central radial abutment carried by the wheel spider.

The invention is particularly directed to means for forming spacing bands of the type shown in Burger patent, Reissue No. 19,885, dated March 10, 1936.

The present invention contemplates forming such bands from flat strip material by rolling the material into angle shape and then forcing the same through an arcuate die to produce the proper curvature therein for embracing the wheel spider.

One of the primary objects of the present invention is to form such bands more economically and at greater speed than it was possible heretofore.

Another feature of the present invention is in the use of flat strip stock, which can be pur chased at low cost and which can be cut into the proper lengths so that as it is passed through the rolls and die member the band is accurately formed to proper shape and requires only a punch operation to form the locking means therein.

Still another feature of the present invention is the use of a roll member contacting theband as it leaves the arcuate die for imparting a slight amount of reverse bend thereto. This is of distinct importance as it relieves the strains produced in the strip as it is passed through the arcuate die in such manner that if the ring or band thus formed is accidentally dropped, it will have a tendency to contract in diameter rather than expand, whereas, if such reversing stress was not introduced into the band it might, through handling or the like, spring open to a position such as to render it diificult to latch it about the wheel spider.

The process is readily adaptable to forming bands of varying diameters by the substitution of arcuate die members having various radii of curvature. The reversing or blockingmember is preferably adjustable so that it is capable of movement into the proper position, depending upon the type of curving die employed.

It is desirable that such spacing bands'have suitable means for latching the ends together when placed on a wheel spider. this purpose, the blanks are preferably cut to a length such that when rolled they will be vof proper circumferential extent to embrace the wheel spider in the proper manner. Preferably,

To accomplish latching tongue, and when the rolling operation and curving operation have been completed the band is placed on a suitable horn punch or the like and the latching tongue is bent to proper shape, then the latch notch is cut out from the opposite end of the band at a suitably gauged distance so as to produce the proper latching action.

If desired, the blank may be cut to exact length and notches punched in each end prior to passage through the rolls and curving die. In such case it is only necessary to bend the latch tongue into latching position in a subsequent forming operation in order to produce the completed band. v

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear more fully from the following detailed description which, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, will disclose to those skilled in the art the particular method and apparatus employed for forming bands of the type disclosed.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is an elevational view showing the rolling and curving operations;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the flat blank prior to its entrance into the rolls; I

Figure 3 is an end elevational view of the structure shown in Figure 1; I

Figure 4 is a diagrarmnatic representation of the latch forming operation;

Figure 5 is a sectional view of the band as formed in the present invention taken substantially on line 5--5 of Figure 6;

Figure 6 is a plan view of the adjacent ends of the band with the latch formed therein;

Figure 7 is a side view of the structure shown in Figure 6 taken substantially along line 1--1 of Figure 6; and

Figure 8 is a plan view of a modified form of blank which may be employed in the present invention. Considering now in detail the drawings, the blank 5 as shown in Figure 2 is formed of flat strip stock, preferably that known as SAE 1020, and has one end thereof notched as shown at 6. It will be noted that the notch 6 extends more than half way across the width of the blank and provides the extending tongue 1 for a purpose to be described in detail hereinafter. I The blank 5 after being cut to length and notched is adapted to be fed through a series of rolls 8, 9 and I ll, wherein it is formed into an angle shaped section substantially as shown in one end of each blank is notched to form the 55. Figure. .5, The rolls 8 constitute feeding rolls for feeding the blank into the rolls 9 and H), which rolls are so formed as to bend up or flange the metal to provide the cylindrically flanged portion l2 and the radially extending flange l3 at one edge thereof, the two being joined by a slightly curved filleted portion I4 which adds rigidity to the flange [3 and is retained beneath the rim gutterxin operation. The rolls 9.:and H) are preferablyremovable so as to accommodate the insertion of different rolls and different Widths of band depending upon the particular." type of wheel spider in which the band is to be used. From the roll In the flangecl'bandpasses into a guide [6 extending closely adjacent; the. outlet portion of the rolls: Ill The guide. It: guides this band into the straight die I! having; an opening therein conformingin section to the. section of the band shown in Figure This serves to hold the band against buckling, andi also guides the band into the opening l8 in. the curving die member l9. This curving; di'ememher I!) has theopening l8 thereinextendingin a. longitudinal arcpredetermined" in accordance with the. desired diameter ofithe band. Preferably, the.curvatureofithe opening 18" is such as to provide a slightly smaller band'than that desired; For example, for a twenty inch wheel spider,,the curvature of the .die,opening in-the die. l9. would b'e suchas to bring the diameter of 'the. bandfto a smaller diameter than twenty inches. However,,such a band" ifthe stresses were. not. relieved therein, would be" susceptible to moving into. a larger? diameter during, ham

dling or the like, especially ifdropped,,due to the. strains. produced .therein duringtlie curving operation... Inord'erto eliminate suchjacondiv tion the blocking. bar. 29. is providecllmounted on-the. base. member. ZZTsuppQrting. the. rolls .and

dies-and'having slotsl'tthereinaccommodating slight.longitudinallmovement of the block 20'jin a direction sub'stantiallynormaLto the .travelof the band 5. The block 20'is adjustedfin position .by means of the. adjusting; screw. 24' carried on the flange 25. of.'-the. stand; andlpreferably carriesa-roller 2.6! which..is'- adapted; to engage the under-surface oflthecylindricalifl'ange I2" of the band.

The member 20' is adiustedginto. such position that the bandv 5 isbentslightly in.a reverse direction from the curvatureproduced' in. the ,die 1 l9. This. counteracts thestresses set,up.in..the die I Hi and. imparts a. sufl'icient. reversestressin the band 5' such thatupomdropping or thelike the band will tendto. contract instead. of? expanding. Itshouldlbeunderstood .of .course;tliat the roller 26. does,not..impart; such. a. reverse curvature= to. the. handy 5. as to, distort. it.. so that its diameter would exceed to, any. appref ciable extentthe proper. diametendesiredintthe band for the particular; wheelwithwhichit. is-to be employed.

After. the blank 5.. leaves the. roller. 26: it. is placed upon a..suitab1e; gauge. block, 28 where the. opposite, end. 29 of; therblanli- 5. is. punched in a suitable..manner. to -.produce. thereinjhe: re..- cess' 31% having thelaterally projecting tongue 32 forming. a-Jlatch lrecess-in the. cylindricalportion ll of this end. of-.' the; blank; The. gauge block 28 is designed. sothat. this. punching operation will gauge. the notch. with. respect. to the opposite end.33 ofathe blankeadist'ance. such that when inlatched position the-latch tongue will'be more or less centered. in. the recess, 30. The tongue 'I" initially iormedlon the blank 5. before the rolling and curving operations is also positioned on the gauge block 28 in such manner that when the punch 35 descends thereonto, it bends up the end 36 of this tongue and bends down an intermediate portion of the tongue, as indicated at 31, in suitable relationship to the gauge space 38 between the ends of the band. Thus, whether the band is slightly over length or not' will have no effect upon the latching operation since. it only means that the tongue 36 will project upwardly a slightly greater distance, which will not in any way affect the operation of the band in carrying out its proper functions in the'wheel assembly.

Therofisetportion 31 of the tongue 1 is providedtforfthe' purpose of clearing the tongue 32 omthezopposite. end of the band to provide for proper latchingcooperation between the tongue 1" andthe' latch recess 30. With the band in positionfon the wheel spider and embracing the spoke shoulders adjacent the central abutment, the:latch:shouldbeformedinsuch manner' that the'tongue 31 is out.of"contactwith' either or the end-surf aces of the recess 30*, as' shown in Figures 6 and 7; thereby"a-llowinga certain amountof play in the band to accommodate'manufa'cturing'tolerances' irrthe- Wheel spider; and also to facilitate easy applicatiom 0fthe band to the spider:

In Figure 8 I have disclosed a modified form ofblank lll having-a. notch 42" formedat one endthereofjto define-the latch tongue 43 corresponding to the, latch tongue: I of Figure 2. However; the blank' of this' modificatiom is cut exactly'to a predetermined length, depending upon the. diameter of band required, and the opposite end of" thev band 44- thereof is notched'as'indicatedat' 45* to provide thelatch recess having the tongue 46 corresponding", to the tongue 32 of Figure 6. With such a-construction the two ends;of:the band arepreformcd prior to the rolling and curving operationso thatithe only requirement upon completion of the curving: operation. is the bending of the tongue portion 43' to,providei an offsetportion corresponding to that indicatedat 37 and a lip portion corresponding to that indicated" at .36 in Figuresfi and'7.'.

It; is therefore believed" apparentthat a; simplified'methodof forming. suchbands is produced by following" the process described, and that' the apparatus for, producing .such bandsis of. simple and inexpensive character and is readily adjustable for. forming various sizes. of bands and ,does notrequire any" appreciable outlayin tools or fixtures;

After the band has been formed it may be platedwith' cadmium .or the like as a protection against1rusting,;or. may be given a coating of prime paint, as desired;

Due. to the. stress conditions in the band, handlingof. the b'andswill. not produce enlargement thereoffbutiwillftendito contractthesarne slightly,,which.is.desirable in order to make the. band hugthewheelyspider as closely as possible when in, operating position.

I'am awarethat various changes may be made in certain detailsof the present invention without. departing from the. underlying principles thereof; and. I therefore do, not intend to be limitedlexcept as defined'by the scope and spirit of the appended claim.

I claim:

Apparatus for forming an angle section circular. spacing band. from .a flat blank comprising fediilg and'rolling means for forming saidblank into an angle shape, a first rigid die having a longitudinally extending die opening into which said blank is fed, a second rigid die having an arcuate die opening with the entrance end disposed closely adjacent to and aiined with the exit end of said first die for imparting a predetermined curvature to said blank as it is forced longitudinally therethrough, said first die serving to support said blank against buckling and adjustable roller means contacting the inner annular surface of said blank as it leaves said second die for efiecting a slight straightening of said blank to remove the stresses introduced therein in said arcuate die.

FREDERICK W. BURGER. 

